Feb. 20, 2011

Think about waking up in the morning and going to your bathroom and discovering that you do not have any toiletries. No soap, shaving cream, toothpaste or toothbrushes to get ready to present a civilized front to the world.

Now imagine that you have been sleeping outside for several days, it's over 100 degrees and you have had on the same clothes for a week. Sand has been blowing in your eyes and you have been eating glorified TV dinners for months.

Sound like a bad episode of “Survivor”?

This is just a normal day for many of our men and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Those who are serving on the front lines have no PXs and those that do have to spend their own money to get the essentials that make our lives bearable.

So, after receiving a letter from my son serving in Iraq, with the help of several businesses and generous donations from the community for the last four years, Doing Our Part from the Heart has been sending United States service men and women packages with toiletries and snacks to make their tour of duty a little more pleasant as they protect this country.

I had asked my son what he wanted for Christmas and I was expecting a list of current DVDs and video games, but what I got totally surprised me. It was a list of toiletries, soap, razors, Band-Aids and pain relievers, and, he added, “Send enough for all my men.”

At that point, I decided that I, along with my aide and the Okolona Business and Professional Association, would start a small drive to collect items and send them to soldiers who are stationed close to the front lines.

Knowing several soldiers deployed, 200 boxes were sent to these soldiers to “share.” To send a package to a soldier, it has to be addressed to a specific individual. So we would send boxes into a company, 50 boxes addressed to one soldier.

When the boxes were delivered, this solider said he stood on the mail truck and hand the boxes out like it was Christmas. He said it was like little kids at lunchtime. Soldiers would be trading items, trying to get the snacks or deodorant that they liked the best.

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When we would receive big items, we would pack them and send them to chaplains. The chaplains put the items in their tents and opened stores. One called his the “Heaven Eleven” store. They tear the tops of the boxes and let soldiers “go shopping.” Soldiers come into the chaplain's tent and pick out the items that they need or would enjoy.

We include a pamphlet about Louisville and a letter telling the soldiers just who was helping them out. We asked them to e-mail if they can, just to put a face with the box.

The letters we get back are incredible. A lot of them have a Kentucky or Louisville connection and so many are just amazed that a group of strangers would take the time to send them a few items from home. Our main goal is to let them know we are still thinking of them.

But the amazing things do not just happen overseas. I am constantly amazed at the generosity of people in the community.

Last year, a colleague of mine was talking about a musical her son, who is a composer, wrote. Jokingly, someone in the group said it would be great if he wrote the drive a jingle.

After hearing about the drive, he didn't just write a jingle, he wrote a beautiful signature song.

I was blown away when Matt Hodge offered his time and unlimited talent to write us this inspiring song. Every time I hear it, I can't believe that it is for our drive. If you want to be inspired, go to www.matthodge.com and listen to “A Hero Always Lives.”

Again, I challenge the community to make a soldier's day. This year's campaign began Feb. 14 and runs through March 31.

Those who do not wish to donate specific items can also help with the cost of shipping. It costs over $12 to mail each box.

Republic Bank is a partner in this effort by maintaining an account to accept all monetary donations to cover postage. Donations can be deposited to “Doing Our Part” at any Republic Bank. For lists of items to send and drop-off sites for donations, go to louisvilleky.gov, click on “Metro Council” and then click on my photo; that will take you to the link to the lists.

So the challenge is very simple. Take a small portion of your day to make a monetary donation or a donation of a few toiletries to help a soldier. Let them know they are not forgotten.